Crane



May 29, 1928.

G. E. MOORE CRANE Filed Sept. 30. 1922 4 Shets-Sheet 1 G. E. MOORE May29, 1928.

CRANE 4 Sheets-Sheet '2 Filed Sept. 30. 1922 I INVENTOR ATTORNEY May 29,1928.

G. E. MOORE CRANE Filed Sept. 50. 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORATTORNEY Y 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 G. E. MOORE CRANE Filed Sept. 50. 1922 May29, 1928.

INVENTOR v BY I ATTORNEY Patented May 29, 1928.-

UNITED STATESPATENT) oFFicE.

. GEORGE EDWARD Moons, or MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEFASSIGN-MENTS; CORIORATION OF DELAWARE.

TO SHAW CRANE-PUTNAM MACHINE CO. INCL, OF MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN, A

can-m1.-

v I Application filed September so, 1922. Serial no. 591,466.

This invention relates to cranes and, more particularly in'some of itsdetails, to heavy duty traveling turn-table cranes for use in connectionwith machine shops, repair shops, and the like.

.The invention has for its general object an improved construction of,theparts and assembly of a crane of the class mentioned resulting in anarrangement whichis efficient in use and comparatively inexpensive inmanufacturing cost. 3

Another object is to provide a crane of the class mentioned having novelfeatures and arrangement of parts especially adapting it for the quickand efiicient handling in repair shops or the like, of heavy apparatussuch as locomotives. t

Another object is to provide an improved.

crane'wherein no'vel'and effective means are employed for mounting andoperating the turntable hoist.

Still another object isto provide animproved suspension mechanism.adapted particularly for use in turn-table cranes whereby a load isreadily attachedin properly balanced position and swung on. a verticalaxis to any desired position i Another object is to provide a novel andeffective current-carrying connection for transmitting electric energytothe motors ofthe crane.

Other objects will be in part pointed out in connection with thefollowing detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of theinvention, and will be in part obvious in connection therewith.

The invention accordingly consists inthe features of construction,combinations of ing mechanism Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional Viewtaken approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig.

2' looking in {the direction. of the arrows,

certain parts being omitted for clearness andsimplicity of disclosure;p.

. Fig. 4 is a detail enlarged sectional view on the line 4- of Fig. 2looking in the direction of the arrows; I

Fig. Tris a view ofthe suspension means for suspending the load; e Fig.dis a view of an alternative form of lifting beam;

Fig. 7 isa vertical section of the current collector; A

F 1g. 8 is a plan view of the same; and Fig.9 1s a'plan View of onecorner of the lower frame of the trolley with parts omitted.

Referring to the drawing for a'detailed description of. the illustrativeembodiments shown, the main bridge 1' of the crane in cludesparallelspaced girders supportedat' opposite ends by trucks 2. a-ndrunning on rails supported any desiredmanner and extending in elevatedposition along oppositefsidesof a machine shop or'the like. Thelongitudinal bridge-girders are suitably secured together in spacedparallelrelation: ship by transverse frame members (not shown). Anydesired mechanism may. be

employed for drivingthisbridge along the isle.

Tracks 3 extend along these bridge girders and atrolleyt having'wheels 4is mounted thereon for longitudinaltravel. This trolley is constructedin two parts, a lower frame 5 and an upper frame: 6. The lower frameincludes longitudinal frame members or sills .7 arranged in spacedparallel pairs at each side vof the frame, the wheels 4;. being supported each end thereofforrotation between the ,sills of each pain Coverplates 7". are secured to the upper flanges of these longitudinal sillsforming in effect longitudinal boX girders forthe lower frame.

The transverse sills or frame members 8 are connected at opposite endsto longitudinalsills 7. Transverse frame members or sills 9 in the formof I-beams are spaced inward- 1y from theend of the lower frame," beingsecured at opposite ends tothe inner sills 7 One of. theseI-beamsis'shown in section in Fig. 4, and both. are shown in dottedlines in Fig. 2.

i Diagonally disposed-braces 10' and 11 em 7 tend.

tend across the corners between the inner sills 7 and I-beam sills 9 asshown in Fig. 3, and in dotted lines in Fig. 2. These braces arearranged in parallel pairs and act not only as bracing membersrigidifying the "The upper frame section of the trolley is supported forhorizontal rotation on the lower frame on the conical rollers 12. andhas longitudinal and transverse I-beam sills lbsecuredtogether at thecorners by gusset plates and'connecting angles riveted thereto. Theupper frame is somewhat smaller in horizontal dimensions than the lowerframe, thus providing marginal areas on the latter for placing certaindriving mechanism re ferred to hereinafter. Heavy metallic bearing slabsMare securedin diagonal position across thecorners of the upper frame asby brackets which are riveted to the frame to whlch the slabs arebolted. These slabs not onlyfunction as rigidifying braces for theframebutalso an in'iportantfunction thereof is to form supports at thecorners of the frame for supporting a circular track 16. For thispurpose, the lower faces of a these slabs lie flush with the lower facesof the I-beams 13, and a continuous 100% bear- "ing forthe track is thusprovided conjointly by the beams 13 as the supporting slabs 14. ii iThetrack 16is formed at its lower part with an inclined flange .17forming an inlinedor conicalsurface adapted to contact with the upperperiphery of the conical rollersfor rotatably supporting'the upper frameon the lower. This track is provided 'withgear teeth in its outerperiphery which are heavily shrouded by the projecting lowci-Tfla-nge oftheftrack as clearly shown in Figure 4-; TlllS lower flange is slightlyinclined. to form a conical supporting surface for coperating with theconical surfaces of the suiaortln rollers 12. The

toothed construction of this track as described provides a continuouscircular invtegral rack forrotating the upper frame,

resulting in acompact and durable construct on. Theupper frame mountedas described forms a turn-table rotatable in a fhorizontalplane'and thisis rotated by a motor 18 mounted on the lower frame. A pin ion'19Tiueshes with the driving rack formed in the track, being carried atthe upper end of a shaft 20 mounted vertically in bearing carried by ab'acl'cet 21 bolted to the Lbeam 9. The train of the gearing shown inFigs. 2 and 4 is arranged to transmit power from the driving motor torotate the turn tajble.

For supporting the turn table in properly centered position on thesupporting "rollers 12, centering rollers 22 are supported upon verticalshafts or rods 28 suitably secured to the lower frame 4. The rollers aremounted in position to Contact the outwardly disposed annular surfacespresented by the lower flange of the track 16 as clearly shown in Fig.3, these surfaces being turned to true circular form for this purpose;It will therefore be seen that the turn-table may be rotated asdesiredwhile being always retained in properly centralize-d relation. Fordriving the trolley along the traveling bridge a motor 24 rs supportedon the lower frame having a driving pinion. 25" co-operating with a geartrain 26 for transmitting power to the.transversely disposed. shaft 27carry m p1n1ons 28 meshing with driv ng gears 29secured to trolleywheelsh. Theturn table motor 18 andtr'olley motor 24, as well as thehoisting motor hereinafter referred toare controlled in any approvedmanner by an operator stationed 'in a fixed cab carried by the bridge.

The hoisting mechanism forthe crane'is mounted upon the turntable. Asshownin Fig. 2, this mechanism ncludes a ho sting drum 30 mounted on theturn-table section in suitable pedestals and havingperipheral" grooves31 for receiving "flexible winding connections such as wire, rope orcable shown at 32 and 33 1n Fig. 1. This drum 1s driven by a hoistingmotor 34: towhich it is connected by gear trains 35 and 36; A

brake for controlling the motor and hoisting,

mechanism is shown at 37 and is operated electrically by a solen0id f3 8connected for electrical control from the operators cabfi The flexiblehoisting connections are di videdinto two spaced parts 32 and 3'3feachconnected to the grooves of the, hoistingv drum and threaded to spacedblocks 39and 40 respectively. These blocks are supported on the turntable section of the trolley by transverse frame inen ibers ll disposedin parallel relationship and rigidly secured at their ends to theI-bean'i' Theblocks supported upon axes l2 CilllMXl by trans verseplates 43 rigidly secured to tlieframe members (ll, each block beingmade up of 'a plurality of sheaves i l in order that a numberofturns ofthe flexible hoisting cable may be employed for'multipl'ying power in amanner known in the art.

Spaced hoisting blocks 45 and 46 are supported respectively below theupper blocks 39 and 40 and each is made up of a plurality of sheaves Movr whichthe hoisting Cables ill:

. any suitable bolts 48.

pass. The lower blocks are. secured to a lifting beam atspaced portionsthereof by connecting means such as eye- The hoisting connections forattachment of the load are des gned more especially for handling veryheavy apparatusof considerable longitudinal extent, such. for example aslocomotivesand means for connection at spaced parts of the load. areincluded.

For providing el'liciont means for convenient attachment to, and forbalancing and turnmg theloadina horizontal. plane a lifting "beam 49 isemployed. This beam may be of lmiltatp girder construction and issupported in horizontal or app roximatel y horizontal positionfrom thehoisting mechanism of the turn-table described above as shown in Fig.

l. The securingmeans lS are Spaced apart on the lift ng beam andattached to the latter to properly balance the combined beam 'bodimentillustrated, these slings are especially adapted forsupportmg alocomotive orthe like, and are formed for coo-peration with the forwardboiler end and fire-box end respectively. The forward sling 51 for theboiler end includes a flexiblemember adapted to pass around theboiler,"and loops. 52. are secured; to the tern'nnals thereot forpassing over opposite upwardly extending horns 53 of a sling hanger 5 fseated upon the upper surface of the lifting. girder.

Flanges, extend dowmv'ardly' fromthe slit 3' hanger on opposite sides ofthe girder, holes being'pro-vided; for asecuring pinor bolt 56 andpositioned for registry with any one of a series of holes 57 in the,girder, so 'l'hehanger can besecured in any. adjustodposition asdesired.

he opposite sling (30 is attached to the lifting beam, by means of alink-61 secured to the beam bye pin 62 adapted to pass through any oneof a pluralityof holes-63 in the beam, end. The lower end of this linkis pivotallyattached at G lto the upper sling girder, centrally, of itslength. This sling is of special construction adapted for co-oporation,with aload having a flat contact surface; andincludes an upper girder 65and a lower girder 66 connected at juxtaposed ends by vertical bars orlinks 67having pivotal connections to the respective girders. lt will beseen that this sling is easily placed in carrying position and readilyadjusts it self to the load.

The adjustable connections to the lifting beam enables the load. to beplaced. as1decannot be carried broad-side. I H condit ons as these, Ithe arrangement pro;

is. square] thesired so to transmit stresses equally to theturn-tableand 'otherparts of the crane,

and to 'maintz-iin the parts. in proper alignment. liy the spacedarrangement of the upper and lower blocks as-described, it will. be seenthat the transmission of turning lrlOHlOlllJS from the turn-table to thelifting beam and its load to adjust the angular position of the latterina horizontal plane may be accomplished without any substantial relativeangular displacement of the load withrespect to the turn-table. Thisfacilitates handling of'heavy loads. In existing repair shopsand othermachine shops, there is usually an isle extending along one side oralong the center with angularly disposed side areas orstalls forreceiving the 'IlOCOll'lOlllVG or the lilre.- These shops are often low,furnishing little room so. the load" cannot be elevated to pass overmachinery in the angularly disposed stalls. Also the isles are usuallyso narrowthat the loacs Under such vided by this craneis particularly..,advantageous, the load can be moved forward ly in the isle head on andquickly swung into position forplacing inv any angularly' disposed stallwith'inaterial saving of time. Also it willbe noted that the trolleyis'rela- .tivel} small and vertical over all dimensions wl'ierebyinstallation is not obstructed in shops where over head room is limited.

Special connections for transmitting 'elcc-f trio power .to the hoistingmotor 34 and brake solenoid 38 are shown. in Figs. 8' and 7. Theseconnections embody a multiple contact slip ring construction ,with sliprings 70 carried on a post 71 which iscovcred with insulating material,so that the rings are insulated from the post and from each other. Themiddle portion of the post lower end being cylindrical, a.n l;' iou1.tnaled in bearing bosses 72 and 72 on the trolley frame. A thrustcollar73 is arranged on the cylindrical portion of the post at thejunction of the square I portion therewitln]justjabove the bearing bossThe upperend of the post isheld in a boss '74: having threaiiledengagement with one end of a conduit The conduit extends radiallyoutside of-the turn-table section of the trolley and is. bent down to aconnection with the lower trolley frame 41.. Each of the rings/T0 iscomposed of halves, which are bolted; onto ,the square shaft as shown.shown in Figure 8, thesections of each ring have a square hubforengaging the post. The rings aresl'releton rings as shown, and theterminals of the cables 7 6 which lead tothe motor and brake solenoid,are bolted to the respective rings. The cables are thread: ed upwardlythrough the rings, and into the conduit 75. A-support 77 of steel or thelike is secured to the. upper trolley frame,

limiting sense.

and this support carries a wooden block,

forming an insulator, to which are attached the carbon brushes 78, andthe brushes engage the collector rings; While only one brush for eachring is shown, for large'capacities, two brushes would be used. Inpractice the square portion of the post will be insulated with'miea. Thecenter post which carries the collector rings is jour- 'naled ontheupper trolley frame, and is above construction and many apparentlywidely di'fl'erent embodiments of this invention could be made withoutdeparting from the scope thereof, it, is intended that all mattercontained in the above description or 7 shown in the accompanyingdrawlng shah:

be interpreted as illustrative and not in a It is also to be understoodthat thc'language used in the following clanns 1s 1ntended to cover allof the generic and speclhc features of the invention herein describedand all statements of the scope of the invention; which, a matter oflanguage, might be said tolall thereb etweeni Having described myinvention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is: i i f j V 1; In a crane, in combination, a traveling bridge, atrolley mounted to travel longitudinally of said bridge, a hoistingmechanism maturing a winding drum .rotat'a-bly mounted on said trolley,a lifting beam, blocks attached to said liftingv beam at spaced apartpoints, blocks Connected with said trolley having their axes disposedsubstantially coincident with a center line of said trolley, saidhoisting drum being mounted to one side of and above said last ntmtionedblocks, and hoisting cables eX tending between the blocks on the"lifting beam and trolley and-s:-uddrum.

2. In a crane, in combination, a traveling trolley including upper andlower members,

i a means for mounting said upper member on th axisefrotationof saidblocks "beingat the lower 'meu'iber to turn "about, a vertical axis,blocks carried by said upper member located one at each SlClG oi saidvertical axis,

of saidupper member, aihoisting drum r0- 'tatably mounted on said uppermember above and to one side of said blocks, other blocks locateddirectly below thefirstmentioned blocks and flexible hoistingconnections extending between the drum "and said first and secondmentioned blocks.

3. In a crane, a traveling trolley for said crane iiticluding upper andlower members, said upper member being mounted on the lower membertoturn about a vertical axis, said upper member comprising a rectangularframe having spaced apart connected sides and ends, two spaced apart"frame members extending between-opposite [sides oi? the frame andsecurely connected thereto at theirends, blocks, one adjacenteach end ofsaidi'ra'me members mounted between and supported by theirame members,the axes of rotation of the blocks being in alignment and at rightangles to andintersect-ing the vertical axis about which the said uppermember turns, other. blockslocated below the first mentioned blocks, ahoisting drum carried by said upper memher above and to one sidejof saidframe inenibers, and flexible hoisting connections mentioned blocks.

between said drum and the first and second 4t. "11 a crane, incombination, a traveling bridge, a trolley mo'untedto travel longhtudinally of said'bridg'e, a turn table'mount:

ed on said trolley and adapted to be turned about a verticalaxis, spacedapart hoisting I blocks carriedby the turn table and mounted to turnabout horizontal'axes located in secting thevertical axis about whichthe turn table turns, a lifting-beam disposed below-the bridge, spacedapart blocks connected to and located above said lifting beam, ahoisting drum located above andto one 'sideof said first blocks, andflexible acter described comprising, a rectangular l'rame having spacedapartgsidesand ends "alignment and atri'ght angles to 'and interconnected together, two spaced apart trans- Verse frame memberslocatedbetween the sides of the frame and attaehed thereto at said framemembers, i

In testimony whereof I allix my signature.

GEORGE EDWARD MOORE,

.115 their ends, hoisting blocks disposed between

